Tiling.



A. DU MONTIER.

TILING.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3. 1910.

984;, 1 26. Patented Feb. 14, 1911.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

J V/ F- \7 r T i z L J M A. DU MONTIER.

TILING.

AP'PLIOATION FILED JAN. 3. 1910.

984,126. Patented Feb. 14, 1911.

2 sums-SHEET 2.

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I. ATET FFTC.

.. KLINCI-I TILE CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

'IILING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 3, 1910.

Patented Feb. 14:, 1911. Serial No. 536,035.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED DU MoN'rniR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Alexandria, in the county of Alexandria and State ofVirginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tiling,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in tiles, and it consists in theconstructions, combinations and arrangements herein de scribed andclaimed.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved tile formed ofglass, clay or other ceramic material, which is constructed to stronglyinterlock and provide a durable and solid structure.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved form ofceramic tiles, in which the several tiles can be convenientlysuccessively assembled in interlocked position under all conditionsoccurring in prac tice.

A further object of my invention is to pro vide improved ceramic tilesconstructed to be readily subdivided, or cut, in any re quired mannerfor closely fitting in any desired position, and which will be free fromthe checking and discoloration found to occur in existing constructionsof enameled metal tiles.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved ceramic tilewhich can be firmly secured in posit-ion by a plastic backing, or bystaples or other suitable fastening devices, and in which a close andeven joint will be formed with certainty between the several assembledtiles.

Referring to the drawings, forming a part of this application and inwhich similar reference symbols indicate corresponding parts in theseveral views: Figure 1 is a rear view of a tile, illustrating oneembodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig.1; Fig. 8 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is arear viewof a tile, illustrating a slight modification; Fig. 5 is a section onthe line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a perspective view, illustrating myimproved tiling curved to finish an outside corner; Fig. 7 is a rearview of a tile, illustrating a further modification, and Fig. 8 is asection on the line 88 of Fig. 7

Referring especially to Figs. 1-3 of the drawings, 1 indicates the bodyportion of a glass wall tile, provided on its rear face with spacedlongitudinal projections 2 intersected by series of parallel transverselook ing ribs 3; the projections and ribs being uniformly spaced, andthe series of ribs arranged in staggered relation. This provides animproved tile having a maximum of strength and rigidity with a minimumof weight, and which will be free from all checking and cracking. Theribs 3 have their front faces recessed at i flush with the edge of thetile body, and inclined outwardly therefrom to constitute taperedlocking teeth, spaced slightly from the rear face of the tile body andextending outwardly past said edge. This provides a highly advantageousconstruction in which the rear surfaces of the transverse ribs 3 andprojecting teeth lie in a common plane parallel to the tile body,thereby insuring uniform impression and regular setting of the tiles inthe plastic backing. The recessed portions 4 of the transverse ribsprovide shoulders flush with the edges of the tile bodies, for spacingthe tapered front faces of the locking teeth 5 from the rear surfacesand edges of the bodies of the adjacently assembled tiles; therebyinsuring a strong anchoring of said locking teeth in the plasticbacking, and preventing the objec tionable interference of hardsubstances and gritty particles in the plastic backing between thelocking teeth and the superimposed bodies of the adjacently assembledtiles. The shoulders i also permit free access of the plastic backinguniformly along the entire space between the contiguous edges ofadjacently assembled tiles for forming a smooth and even joint betweenthe several files.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a slight modification, in which the tile isprovided on its rear face with longitudinal projections having theircontiguous walls inclined to form an undercut groove 6, for receivingthe plastic, backing to strongly and positively an chor the tile; saidundercut groove being preferably formed by a shiftable or collapsiblecore to prevent cracking or straining the tile material during cooling.In this construction, the transverse ribs? extend in staggered relationfrom the outer walls of the projections, and terminate in the abovedescribed form of locking teeth.

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate a further modification, in which the tile isprovided on its rear face with a longitudinal medial projection 8 havingseries of parallel transverse ribs 9 extending in staggered relationfrom its opposite walls; the projection 8 being divided by a series ofgrooves 10 intermediate of the ribs- 9 for receiving a plastic backing,and to facilitate cutting of the tile at various points in its length.

Fig. 6 illustrates a construction in which the tile body is curved forapproximately half its length through an arc of 90, to adapt the tile toan outside corner. This provides a very attractive means for finishingoutside corners, with a curved surface merging evenly into the faces ofthe side walls; the parallel transverse ribs on the curved portion ofthe tile cooperating to provide undercut anchoring recesses between saidseveral ribs.

My improved ceramic tiles are preferably formed of glass, which can bereadily molded or pressed and colored to meet all practicalrequirements.

I have illustrated preferred and satisfactory constructions, but changescould be made within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A. ceramic tile provided on its rear surface with a series ofparallel ribs, having their front faces recessed to provide shouldersextending rearwardly flush with the edge of the tile and inclinedoutwardly from such shoulders to constitute tapered locking teeth spacedfrom the rear surface of the tile, substantially as described.

2. A ceramic tile provided on its rear surface with longitudinalprojections and series of parallel ribs extending from said projectionsperpendicular to opposite edges of the tile, said ribs having theirfront faces recessed to provide shoulders extending rearwardly flushwith the tile edges and inclined outwardly from such shoulders toconstitute tapered locking teeth spaced from the rear surface of thetile, substantially as described.

3. A ceramic tile provided on its rear surface with longitudinalprojections and transverse ribs of equal thickness, the front faces ofsaid ribs being recessed to provide shoulders extending rearwardly flushwith the edge of the tile and inclined outwardlyfrom such shoulders toconstitute tapered locking teeth spaced from the rear surface of thetile, substantially as described.

t. A ceramic tile provided on its rear surface with uniformly spacedlongitudinal projections and series of transverse ribs of equalthickness, said ribs being recessed to provide shoulders extendingrearwardly flush with the tile edges and inclined outwardly from suchrecessed portions to constitute tapered locking teeth, substantially asdescribed.

5. A ceramic tile provided on its rear surface with longitudinalprojections and inde pendent series of parallel ribs extending from bothedges of the respective projections, said ribs terminating in taperedlocking teeth projecting past the tile body, substantially as described.

6. A ceramic tile comprising a body portion curved longitudinally andprovided on its rear surface with series of parallel transverse ribsextending substantially perpendicular from saidbody portion, said ribsbeing recessed to provide shoulders extending rearwardly flush with theedge of said body portion and inclined outwardly from such shoulders toconstitute tapered locking teeth spaced from the rear surface of saidbody portion, substantially as described.

7. A ceramic tile provided on its rear surface with longitudinalprojections formed with inclined contiguous walls to provide an undercutgroove, and series of transverse ribs extending from the outer Walls ofsaid projections, said ribs having their front faces recessed to provideshoulders extending rearwardly flush with the tile edges and inclinedfrom such recessed portions to constitute tapered locking teeth,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED DU MONTIER.

Witnesses Gr. AYRns, G. H. Arms.

